Apparatus for separating meat and bones including bone elevator

ABSTRACT

The separator is a cylindrical drum having its axis inclined to the horizontal and rotating about that axis. Meat pieces stick to the drum and are carried upwardly and deposited on a conveyor located just under the top of the drum. The bones move down the bottom of the rotating drum and fall by gravity out the lower end. The bone elevator comprises a tapered ring of increasing diameter having its smaller end mounted on the discharge end of the drum, and an oppositely facing tapered ring having its larger end adjacent the large end of the first ring. The two tapered rings have minimum diameters equal to that of the drum and are mounted in face-to-face relation and spaced apart, so as to form a V-shaped valley open at the bottom. The discharged bones fall into this groove and are trapped between the two tapered rings. They are carried up by their engagement between the rings for at least one-quarter turn of the drum. As they pass beyond that point, they either fall out of the valley or are knocked out by a stationary finger which projects into the valley. A discharge chute has a vertical portion located in alignment with the valley in the upper part of the rising side of the drum and open at the side facing the valley. The lower end of the vertical portion of the chute opens into a diagonal portion which catches the falling bones and directs them onto an inspection table. A shield mounted on the under side of the chute prevents bones from falling out through the lower quadrant of the end of the drum on its rising side.

United States Patent Conrad et al.

[4 1 June 20, 1972 [54] APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING MEAT AND BONES INCLUDING BONE ELEVATOR [72] Inventors: Lucas .1. Conrad; Raymond C. Pope, both of Winston-Salem, N.C.

[73] Assignee: J. R. Reynolds Tobacco Company, Winstun-Salem, NC.

[22] Filed: Feb. 9, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 9,513

Allen et a1 ..l98/211 X Primary Examiner-Frank W. Lutter Assistant Examiner--Ralph J. Hill Attorney-Lester W. Clark, Robert S. Dunharn, -P. E.

l-lenninger, Thomas F. Moran, Gerald W. Griflin, R. Bradlee Boal, Christopher C. Dunham and Robert Scobey ABSTRACT The separator is a cylindrical drum having its axis inclined to the horizontal and rotating about that axis. Meat pieces stick to the drum and are carried upwardly and deposited on a conveyor located just under the top of the drum. The bones move down the bottom of the rotating drum and fall by gravity out the lower end. The bone elevator comprises a tapered ring of increasing diameter having its smaller end mounted on the discharge end of the drum, and an oppositely facing tapered ring having its larger end adjacent the large end of the first ring. The two tapered rings have minimum diameters equal to that of the drum and are mounted in face-to-face relation and spaced apart, so as to form a V-shaped valley open at the bottom. The discharged bones fall into this groove and are trapped between the two tapered rings. They are carried up by their engagement between the rings for at least one-quarter turn of the drum. As they pass beyond that point, they either fall out of the valley or are knocked out by a stationary finger which projects into the valley. A discharge chute has a vertical portion located in alignment with the valley in the upper part of the rising side of the drum and open at the side facing the valley. The lower end of the vertical portion of the chute opens into a diagonal portion which catches the falling bones and directs them onto an inspection table. A shield mounted on the under side of the chute prevents bones from falling out through the lower quadrant of the end of the drum on its rising side.

12 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures PATENTEnJuuzo m2 SHEET 2 BF 5 Tia. E.

P'A'TEmEnJuazo m2 3. 570, 8832 saw a or 5 P'A'TENTEnJuuzo 1972 SHEET 4 0F 5 u ll APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING MEAT AND BONES INCLUDING BONE ELEVATOR CROSS-REFERENCES The disuniter shown in this application is an improvement on the disuniters shown in Conrad application, Ser. No. 603,484, filed Dec. 21, 1966, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,472,300, issued Oct. 14, 1969. Certain other features of the disuniter are shown and claimed in the application of Conrad and Alldred, Ser. No. 679,326, filed Oct. 21, 1967, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,514,808 issued June 2, 1970, and Ser. No. 759,709, filed Sept. 13, 1968, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,559,706, issued Feb. 2, 1971.

The separator drum of this application is an improvement on those shown in the application of Alldred and Conrad, Ser. No. 824,381, filed May 8, 1969, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,507,387, issued April 21, 1970, and in Conrad and Everhart, Ser. No. 761,179 filed Sept. 20, 1968, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,508,646, issued April 28, 1970. Another feature of the separator mechanism is shown in Conrad, Ser. No. 754,233, filed Sept. 22, 1969, now Pat. No. 3,508,645, issued April 28, 1970.

The friction conveyor which catches the meat pieces in the separator and discharges them therefrom is shown in Conrad et al, Ser. No. 761,029, filed Sept. 20, 1968, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,547,264 issued Dec. 15, 1970.

The truck mounted disuniter and feed conveyor unit shown at the upper end of the separator drum is shown and claimed in Conrad and Leonard, Ser. No. 20,564, filed Mar. 18, 1970.

The rotating inspection table illustrated as receiving the meat and bones discharged from the separator drum is shown and claimed in Conrad, Ser. No. 24,710, filed April 1, 1970.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The separator drums shown in the earlier patent applications, identified above, were mounted on a high frame, so that the bones discharged from the lowest point of the drum could fall directly onto an inspection conveyor or inspection table. Such an inspection conveyor or table commonly has its working surface located at a convenient height for a standing or sitting inspector.

All apparatus handling meat is required to be shut down and thoroughly cleaned every two or three hours, in order to make sure that no deposits of material which may allow the proliferation of germs can build up on any surface of the apparatus. The high mounting of the separator drum shown in the previous applications made its cleaning difficult and awkward. It also complicated the problem of supplying the disuniter with food pieces to be separated. It was therefore desired to lower the separator drum to facilitate its cleaning and the feeding of food pieces to its upper end. However, the lowering of the separator drum necessarily means that the low end of the drum becomes lower than the inspection table surface, with the result that, with the previous apparatus, it was necessary to provide another piece of apparatus to lift the bones from the discharge end of the drum to the inspection surface.

According to the present invention, the extra bone elevator conveyor which would otherwise be required is eliminated by the provision of a simple, easily cleanable structure mounted on the discharge end of the drum and consisting of two tapered rings. A first tapered ring flares outwardly from the end of the drum and the second tapered ring has its taper in the opposite direction. The two rings are mounted face-toface so as to form between them a V-shaped valley to serve as a trap for the bones being discharged and to lift them about a quarter turn of the drum.

A discharge chute for the bones includes a substantially vertical receiving portion blocking the upper quadrant of the rising side of the lower end of the drum. The receiving portion is open toward the V-shaped valley, and discharges by gravity into a diagonal portion leading out onto the surface of the inspection table.

A shield supported on the under side of the chute blocks the lower quadrant of the rising side of the drum at its lower end,

so that the bones cannot fall out before they reach the discharge chute level.

Awater supply system distributes a thin film of water over the inside surface of the drum 16. The water film assists the sticking of the meat pieces to the drum and thereby ensures their separation from the bones. The water is supplied through fog nonles under a time control.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view of a complete apparatus for separating meat and bones, including a bone elevator constructed in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary view, taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. 3, showing the discharge end of the separator drum and a portion of the inspection table in the apparatus of FIG. 1, including a bone elevator constructed in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 3 is an elevational view of the apparatus of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an end view of the separator drum taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 illustrates a modified form of tapered ring construction.

FIG. 8 illustrates another modified form of tapered ring construction.

FIG. 9 illustrates still another modification of the bone elevator mechanism of the invention.

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 10-10 of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a diagrammatic view of a fog dispensing mechanism used in connection with the separator drum.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION FIGS. 1-6

The apparatus shown in FIG. 1 includes three principal units, namely the truck mounted disuniter apparatus 1, a separator apparatus 2 mounted on a fixed frame and an inspection table 3.

The disuniter apparatus 1 is mounted on a truck including two side frame members 4 and 5 and a cross-frame member 6, all supported on four wheels 7. A pair of diagonal frame members 8 extend upwardly and inwardly from the side frame members 4 and 5. The frame members 8 are braced by struts 9. At their upper ends, the diagonal frame members 8 carry horizontally projecting cantilever beams 10 which together support a disuniter apparatus generally indicated at 11. The disuniter 11 rotates on a vertical shaft 12 connected by a belt 13 to a feed conveyor 14 having at its lower end a hopper 15 into which are fed food pieces to be disunited. Typically, these may be cooked chicken pieces with the meat still clinging to the bones. The apparatus, however, is suitable for use with other types of composite food pieces. These food pieces are discharged from the conveyor 14 through a chute 28 into the top of the disuniter 11. The disuniter separates the meat from the bones and discharges a mixture of bones and meat pieces into the bottom of a drum 16 which is the principal element of the separator apparatus 2.

The drum 16 has on its periphery a pair of grooved collars 17 and 18, which rest on rollers 19 and 20 mounted on a frame 21 having four legs 22 which may be attached to an underlying supporting surface. The roller 20 is driven by a motor 23, effective to rotate the drum 16 in the direction indicated by the arrow 24.

The inside surface of the drum 16 is smooth. The meat pieces tend to cling or stick to this smooth surface, while the bones do not cling. Hence the meat pieces are carried upwardly by the drum as it rotates. As they reach the top of the drum, they fall by gravity or are scraped away from the drum surface by a scraper 28 so as to fall on a longitudinally extending recriprocating conveyor .25 actuated by a reciprocating motor 26 mounted on the frame of the separator 2.

In order to prevent meat pieces from riding up to the top of the drum at the locality of the disuniter 11, there is provided a scraper 27 mounted on the frame of the'disuniter truck and extending into the drum 16 a sufficient distance so that none of the meat pieces travel up the drum until they get beyond the disuniter.

The disuniter truck also carries a shield plate. 30 which closes substantially the entire lower halfof the open upper end of the drum 16, to prevent pieces of meat and bones from falling out that end of the drum.

The inspection table 3 comprises a frame 31 supporting an annular rotating table 32 driven by a motor 33. A divider 34 supported by brackets 35 mounted on the frame 31 extends around the middle of the annular table 32 for most of its periphery, dividing it into inner and outer sections 320 and 32b (see FIG. 2). v 1 The framework of the separator apparatus 2 includes an inverted U-shaped frame 36 at the lefi-hand end, as it appears in FIG. 1. A similar U-shaped frame 37 is located at the righthand end. The central portions of the .two U-shaped frames are connected by a longitudinal beam 38. A cantilever beam 40 extends to the right from the U-shaped frame 37 and supports a hanger. frame 41 which carries (see FIGS. 2-4) the discharge end of the reciprocating conveyor 25, and has a downward extension 42.

Attached to the end of the drum 39, at its lowest point, is the narrow end of a first tapered ring 43. The attachment of the tapered ring 43 to the drum 16 may be by welding. Another tapered ring 44,opposite in form to the ring 43, is supported on ring 43 by a plurality of ring segments 45, each welded at its opposite ends to the rings 43 and 44. Rings 43 and 44 define between them a V-shaped valley 49 into which the bones fall as they move out of the lower end of the rotating drum 16. The bones become wedged between the rings 43 and 44 and are carried upwardly typically at least a quarter turn of the drum 16, as it rotates.

A chute 47 is supported 'on the lower end of frame extension 42 by means of a plurality of rivets 42a whose heads extend through keyhole slots 48 (FIG. in the chute 47.

The chute 47 has an upper part 470, which is channelshaped in cross-section, as best seen in FIG. 6. The open side of the channel is directed toward the V-shaped valley 49. A finger 46 is mounted on the inner flange of the chute part 470, as shown in FIG. 6, and projects into the valley 49, to a point between the edges of the tapered rings 43- and 44. The finger 46 is effective to knock loose any bones which may be jammed in the valley 49. Any bones which remain in the valley up to the level of the finger 46 are knocked out by that finger and fall down through the substantially vertical upper part 47a of the chute 47 onto the lower part 47b. The lower part 47b is a channel-shaped in' vertical cross-section, as best seen in FIG. 4, with its open side upward- The chute part 47b extends diagonally downward toward the outer section 32a of the rotating table 32, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

A shield 60, which may be a shield of nylon or other suitable flexible material is attached to the back of the lower chute portion 47b by means of keyhole slots which receive the heads of the rivets 6l fixed on the underside of the chute section 47b. The lower edge of shield 60 extends within and overlaps the inner edge of the tapered ring 44, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 It may be seen that the shield 60 and the inner flange 69 of the upper part of the chute 47 cooperate to define a blocking shield which substantially closes one half of the end of the drum l6, i.e., the half on its rising side.

At the top of the upper chute part 47a, there is mounted a generally V-shaped scraper 62, which may be of nylon or rivets. Fingers 63 are provided extending from the chute 47 other suitable flexible material, which rides in the valley 49,

closely engaging its sides and removing any bones or pieces of meat which may manage to pass the finger 46. The scraper 62 is attached to the chute 41 by means of keyhole slots and and located above the scraper 62, to limit its upward movement.

The right-hand end of the reciprocating conveyor 25, as viewed in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, discharges into a downwardly ex tending chute 50 which terminates above the inner annulus 32b of the rotating table 32.

Hence, the separator 16 deposits on the table 32 in the outer periphery 32a thereof, a stream of bones which may include an occasional piece of meat. At the same time, there is deposited from the chute 50 onto the inner annulus of table 32 a stream of meat pieces, which may include an occasional bone. The purpose of the inspection table is to enable inspectors to remove the bones from the stream of meat pieces and to remove the meat from the bone pieces.

It may be seen that the surfaces of the rings 43 and 44 which engage the bones are readily cleanable, since complete access is available to the inside of the valley 49.

FIG. 7

This figure illustrates a modified form of the invention in which the tapered rings, instead of having the contour of a frustum of a cone, as in FIGS. 1 to 6, have the contour of a more or less .trumpet shape, as shown at 51 and 52. This trumpet shape may provide a better wedging action for certain types of foods.

FIG. 8

In FIG. 8, the frustoconical shape of tapered rings 43 and 44 of FIGS. 1 to 6 are replaced by tapered rings 53 and 54, which are composite in structure. Ring 53 consists of a first section 53a which is a frustum of a cone having a relatively steep apex angle. At the outer end of the section 53a it is joined to section 53b which is a frustum of a different cone having a relatively shallow apex angle. The tapered ring 54 is similarly a composite of fi'usturns of two cones 54a and 54b. Again, this tapered ring contour has better characteristics for certain types of food particles. For example, it produces a lesser wedging action for larger and hence heavier pieces and a greater wedging action for larger and hence heavier pieces and a greater wedging action for smaller and lighter pieces.

I FIGS. 9-10 These figures illustrate another feature which may be used in connection with the invention. Instead of leaving the space between the rings 43 and 44 open, as shown in FIG. 5, it may be closed by means of a ring 55. This prevents smaller bones and meat pieces from falling out through the slot between the rings 43 and 44. The closure ring 55 should be of a construction such that it is easily removable for cleaning. For example, it may be a split spring ring of nylon or other suitable plastic material, which is sufiiciently yieldable so that it can be deformed for removal from the tapered rings 43 and 44. Where the closure ring 55 is used, the finger 46 of FIGS. 4 and Other types of blocking rings may be used in place of the spring ring 55. One successful embodiment of the invention employs a nylon cord, simply wedged into the V-shaped valley so as to hold itselfin place during rotation of the drum. Such a nylon cord may be thrown away or cleaned by any suitable process, after the standard period of use.

All parts of the bone discharge apparatus described above may be readily disassembled for cleaning, without the use of tools.

FIG. ll

This figure illustrates somewhat diagrammatically a system for supplying a thin fihn of water to the inside of the rotating drum 16. The film supply system includes a water supply source 64 connected through a spool valve generally indicated at 65 to a conduit 66 leading to a manifold 67 located inside the drum and supplying a plurality of fog nozzles 68. As shown in FIG. 4, the manifold 67 is mounted on one side of the conveyor 25, and the nonles 68 are directed downwardly and diagonally toward the downwardly moving surface of the drum 16. Note that the fog impinges on the drum at a con- 5 must be replaced with a shorter finger as shown at 56 in FIG.

venient point soon afier the drum has passed the scraper 28 so that meat particles have been removed from the drum, and hence a clean surface is presented to the fog nonles.

The valve 65 is operated by an electromagnet 70 between the drain position shown, in which the conduit 66 is connected to a long drain tube 71 open to the atmosphere at an elevation considerably below that of the manifold 67, and a water supply position, in which the spools of the valve are moved upwardly, and the conduit 66 is connected through a conduit 72, to the water supply 64. The electromagnet 70 is energized intermittently by a timer 73, connected to a suitable source of electrical energy 74. The timer 73 turns the valve on and E at periodic intervals in order to control the thickness of the film on the inside of the drum surface.

An on/off control system is required for the fog noules,

rather than a gradual control system, because of the fact that the fog nozzles require a water supply at fairly high pressure (80 psi), and do not successfully produce fog at lower pressures. It is essential that the water be supplied to the drum surface as a fog, so that there will not be an excess amount of water discharged into the drum and mixed with the meat. A very thin film of water on the drum is all that is necessary or desirable to make the meat pieces stick to the drum and be carried upward into the discharge conveyor 25. A typical cycle of operation of the timer 73 is 24 seconds, with 12 seconds on (water supplied to fog nozzles) and 12 seconds ofi' (fog nozzles connected to drain). However, depending upon the material being handled and its condition, the time cycle might be varied even to the point of continuous operation of the fog noules. At the other end of the scale, a minimum of about seconds on time is required, with an ofi time not greater than 30 seconds. The time cycle should be controlled so that the moisture added to the material being handled is less than 1 percent of its total weight.

We claim:

1. Apparatus for separating meat and bones from a mixture thereof, including: a. a an elongated cylindrical separator drum having a smooth interior surface and open at its ends;

b. means supporting the drum with its cylindrical axis inclined to the horizontal; means for rotating the drum about its cylindrical axis; means for feeding a mixture of meat and bones onto the radially lower inside surface of the drum at its axially upper end;

a meat discharge conveyor extending longitudinally within the drum above its axis;

. means including the drum and effective as it rotates to carry the meat pieces upwardly onto the meat discharge conveyor, while the bones fall from the rising side of the drum and move downwardly along the radially lower inside surface of the drum and are discharged at the lower end thereof;

wherein the improvement comprises:

g. means for elevating bones discharged from the lower end of the drum to a location part way up toward the top of the drum, comprising: I

l. a first ring member attached to and concentric with the lower end of the drum, said ring member having an inside diameter increasing continuously from a narrow end adjacent and equal in inside diameter to the lower end of the drum toward a wide end spaced from said lower end of the drum;

2. a second ring member having an inside diameter decreasing continuously from a wide end toward a narrow end;

3. means supporting said second ring member in face-toface relation with the first ring member, with their wide ends adjacent one another, but spaced apart, said ring members defining between them a trap for bones falling from the lower end of the drum; said trap being effective to engage the bones and lift them as the drum rotates;

h. a stationary finger extending into the trap above the bottom of the drum to knock the tragnped bones out; and r. a chute extending under sard ger for receiving and discharging the bones dropping therefrom.

2. Separating apparatus as defined in claim 1, in which said means supporting the second ring member comprises a plurality of ring segments, each ring segment being welded at its respective ends to the outer sides of the two ring members.

3. Separating apparatus ad defined in claim 1, in which the ring members are frustums of cones.

4. Separating apparatus as defined in claim 1, in which the ring members are trumpet shaped in cross-section.

5. Separating apparatus as defined in claim 1, including a closure ring located in and blocking the space between the two ring members to prevent bones from falling between them, said closure ring being removable for cleaning.

6. Separating apparatus as defined in claim 5, in which said closure ring is spring ring split for insertion and removal.

7. Separating apparatus as defined in claim 1, in which said chute comprises:

a. an upper portion of channel-shaped cross-section located within and radially spaced from said ring members and having the open side of its channel facing said ring members substantially throughout the upper quadrant of the rising side of said drum; and

b. a lower portion of channel-shaped cross-section, having the bottom of the channel abutting the side flange of the upper portion nearest the inside of the drum, said lower portion being open at its upper side and extending diagonally downward and away from the end of the drum to discharge bones received in said upper portion and dropping into said lower portion.

8. Separating apparatus as defined in claim 7, including a shield attached to the under side of the lower part of the chute and substantially closing the lower quadrant of the rising side of the drum, the outer edge of said shield extending within said second ring member and overlapping its edge.

9. Separating apparatus as defined in claim 7, including a V- shaped scraper plate mounted adjacent the upper end of said chute and extending within said trap to remove any material remaining therein and to direct that material into the chute.

l0. Separating apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said means including the drum further comprises:

1. means including a plurality of fog noules for depositing a thin film of water on the surface of the drum;

2. a manifold for supplying water at high pressure through said fog nozzles;

3. means supporting said manifold longitudinally of the drum with the fog nozzles directed toward the interior surface of the drum;

4. valve means for controlling the supply of water to said manifold; and

5. Time-controlled means for intermittently opening and closing said valve means in accordance with a timed cycle.

11. Apparatus as defined in claim 10, including a drain tube connected to said valve means, said valve means connecting said drain tube to said manifold when the valve means cuts off the supply of water to the manifold to prevent dripping of water through the manifold when the water supply is cut off.

12. Separating apparatus as defined in claim 1, further including shield means substantially closing the lower quadrant of the rising side of the lower end of the drum, except for an opening in said shield means for the passage of said chute.

a: a s e a 

1. Apparatus for separating meat and bones from a mixture thereof, including: a. a an elongated cylindrical separator drum having a smooth interior surface and open at its ends; b. means supporting the drum with its cylindrical axis inclined to the horizontal; c. means for rotating the drum about its cylindrical axis; d. means for feeding a mixture of meat and bones onto the radially lower inside surface of the drum at its axially upper end; e. a meat discharge conveyor extending longitudinally within the drum above its axis; f. means including the drum and effective as it rotates to carry the meat pieces upwardly onto the meat discharge conveyor, while the bones fall from the rising side of the drum and move downwardly along the radially lower inside surface of the drum and are discharged at the lower end thereof; wherein the improvement comprises: g. means for elevating bones discharged from the lower end of the drum to a location part way up toward the top of the drum, comprising:
 1. a first ring member attached to and concentric with the lower end of the drum, said ring member having an inside diameter increasing continuously from a narrow end adjacent and equal in inside diameter to the lower end of the drum toward a wide end spaced from said lower end of the drum;
 2. a second ring member having an inside diameter decreasing continuously from a wide end toward a narrow end;
 3. means supporting said second ring member in face-to-face relation with the first ring member, with their wide ends adjacent one another, but spaced apart, said ring members defining between them a trap for bones falling from the lower end of the drum; said trap being effective to engage the bones and lift them as the drum rotates; h. a stationary finger extending into the trap above the bottom of the drum to knock the trapped bones out; and i. a chute extending under said finger for receiving and discharging the bones dropping therefrom.
 2. a second ring member having an inside diameter decreasing continuously from a wide end toward a narrow end;
 2. a manifold for supplying water at high pressure through said fog nozzles;
 2. Separating apparatus as defined in claim 1, in which said means supporting the second ring member comprises a plurality of ring segments, each ring segment being welded at its respective ends to the outer sides of the two ring members.
 3. Separating apparatus as defined in claim 1, in which the ring members are frustums of cones.
 3. means supporting said manifold longitudinally of the drum with the fog nozzles directed toward the interior surface of the drum;
 3. means supporting said second ring member in face-to-face relation with the first ring member, with their wide ends adjacent one another, but spaced apart, said ring members defining between them a trap for bones falling from the lower end of the drum; said trap being effective to engage the bones and lift them as the drum rotates; h. a stationary finger extending into the trap above the bottom of the drum to knock the trapped bones out; and i. a chute extending under said finger for receiving and discharging the bones dropping therefrom.
 4. valve means for controlling the supply of water to said manifold; and
 4. Separating apparatus as defined in claim 1, in which the ring members are trumpet shaped in cross-section.
 5. Separating apparatus as defined in claim 1, including a closure ring located in and blocking the space between the two ring members to prevent bones from falling between them, said closure ring being removable for cleaning.
 5. Time-controlled means for intermittently opening and closing said valve means in accordance with a timed cycle.
 6. Separating apparatus as defined in claim 5, in which said closure ring is spring ring split for insertion and removal.
 7. Separating apparatus as defined in claim 1, in which said chute comprises: a. an upper portion of channel-shaped cross-section located within and radially spaced from said ring members and having the open side of its channel facing said ring members substantially throughout the upper quadrant of the rising side of said drum; and b. a lower portion of channel-shaped cross-section, having the bottom of the channel abutting the side flange of the upper portion nearest the inside of the drum, said lower portion being open at its upper side and extending diagonally downward and away from thE end of the drum to discharge bones received in said upper portion and dropping into said lower portion.
 8. Separating apparatus as defined in claim 7, including a shield attached to the under side of the lower part of the chute and substantially closing the lower quadrant of the rising side of the drum, the outer edge of said shield extending within said second ring member and overlapping its edge.
 9. Separating apparatus as defined in claim 7, including a V-shaped scraper plate mounted adjacent the upper end of said chute and extending within said trap to remove any material remaining therein and to direct that material into the chute.
 10. Separating apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said means including the drum further comprises:
 11. Apparatus as defined in claim 10, including a drain tube connected to said valve means, said valve means connecting said drain tube to said manifold when the valve means cuts off the supply of water to the manifold to prevent dripping of water through the manifold when the water supply is cut off.
 12. Separating apparatus as defined in claim 1, further including shield means substantially closing the lower quadrant of the rising side of the lower end of the drum, except for an opening in said shield means for the passage of said chute. 